title: Ion-responsive behavior of ionic-liquid surfactant aggregates with applications in controlled release and emulsification.
abstract: We propose a simple but efficient, rapid, and quantitative ion-responsive micelle system based on counter-anion exchange of a surfactant with an imidazolium unit. The ion-exchange reaction results in the amphiphilic-to-hydrophobic transition of the imidazolium salt, leading to the destruction of the micelles, which has been successfully applied to controlled release and emulsification. The proposed design offers a novel alternative stimulus to control these smart physical aggregates besides pH, temperature and light-with extra advantages. Our finding greatly benefits both fundamental research and industry.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry and Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, PR China.
authors.forename: Yanfei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Yuanjian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kuehner
authors.forename: Guifu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Fuyu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Niu
mesh_terms: D004655:Emulsions / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000737:chemistry*; D052578:Ionic Liquids / Q000737:chemistry*; D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry; D008823:Micelles; D010316:Particle Size; D012492:Salts / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D007093:Imidazoles; D052578:Ionic Liquids; D007477:Ions; D008823:Micelles; D012492:Salts; D013501:Surface-Active Agents